Even as the interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir appear embroiled in differences, the head of the three-member panel, Dileep Padgaonkar, on Tuesday said it would complete its report by September-end.
Controversies and criticisms would not distract the panel from its focus of completing the report and submitting it to the government. “… we will complete our work as mandated by the government,” the eminent journalist told The Hindu .
His assertion came on a day when reports in a section of the media spoke of the resignation of Radha Kumar, an academician, from the panel after fellow interlocutor M. M. Ansari criticised her for attending a seminar on Kashmir in Europe, organised by the Tramboo Centre in 2006.
Mr. Ansari, a former Information Commissioner, earlier criticised Mr. Padgaonkar for attending a Kashmir seminar in the U.S., organised by Ghulam Nabi Fai, who was recently arrested by the FBI for using ISI funds for his activities and for lobbying for Pakistan. Mr. Padgaonkar had pleaded no knowledge of the organisers.
On its part, the Union Home Ministry clarified that Ms. Radha Kumar had not resigned. “Interlocutors have completed their visit of Jammu and Kashmir and are busy finalising their reports,” said an official spokesperson of the Ministry.
“Smear campaign”
Though she was not available for comment, Ms. Kumar was said to be upset at the “smear campaign” by Mr. Ansari.
An expert in conflict resolution, Ms. Kumar was earlier engaged in backchannel discussions with the chief of the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
On the work done by the panel, Mr. Padgaonkar said the interlocutors had in the past 10 months visited 18 of the 22 districts in the three regions of the State and met over 600 delegations. “We have also held three round-table conferences, which saw the participation of women, academicians, students, lawyers and social activists,'' he said adding the interlocutors must have met nearly 6,000 people.
Exhaustive exercise
The chief interlocutor said the panel had done “enormous documentation” and mounted by far the most exhaustive exercise of reaching out to people in all J&K regions. “We will complete our report on the basis of conferences, hearings and writings given to us.”
